In a brief ceremony at the Performing Arts Center March 18, Dawson County High School senior Ethan Smith formally accepted and signed a scholarship to play football as a defensive tackle with the Point University Hawks of West Point.

Smith played the bulk of his career at Dawson County on the defensive side of the football as he anchored one of the top defensive lines in the state and he played in the regional championship game and the state playoffs in all three years as a Tiger.

In his senior season Smith was given the opportunity to demonstrate his talent on the opposite side of the field as Head Coach Sid Maxwell moved him to the offensive line to bolster the team’s move to a rush-based offense.

“He provided us with a luxury of talent on defense,” Maxwell said. “We used him where he could be most effective, and he was willing to make that change.”

The son of Chad and Beth Smith, he currently maintains a 3.0 GPA and has plans to pursue a degree in criminal justice.

After considering offers from multiple schools, Smith settled on Point University for a variety of reasons, but the majority of his choice came down to the impact the school would have on his life outside of athletics.

“It’s a Christian school and that will be a good influence,” Smith said. “I feel it will give me the best overall chance to be successful in athletic career, but better for my educational goals, as well.”

Smith expected to have an impact on the Hawks immediately as he will be taking the field with the team in their opening game on Aug. 31 versus Kennesaw State.

“I'm very nervous about the difference in the level of play,” Smith said. “I’m also really excited about the chance to be on the field.”